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Over the past few decades interest in vintage Jamaican mento music has steadily grown, with the genre attracting increasing numbers of fans worldwide. Despite this development, precious little material in the style that was recorded during the Seventies has seen reissue.
This 2CD set aims to address that oversight by showcasing three of the most popular mento collections of the decade – all making their long overdue CD debut here. First released on Sonia Pottinger’s High Note label between 1976 and 1978, “King Vupp”, “Live At Club Caribbean” and “Ram Jam” highlight the respective talents of leading Jamaican performers, King Vupp, the Jolly Boys and the Prince Brothers, with the original LP track-listings bolstered by an array of relevant bonus tracks.
An immensely enjoyable and enlightening listen, “The High Note Mento Collection” effectively demonstrates that there was considerably more to the Jamaican music scene of mid-to-the late Seventies than just roots reggae.
Tracklist
DISC ONE: KING VUPP – King Vupp
1. CALYPSO ROCK – King Vupp *
2. A LIE DEM A TELL – King Vupp *
3. RUCUMBINE – King Vupp
4. DREAD IN A BABYLON – King Vupp *
5. SAILOR MAN – King Vupp *
6. AFRICAN BOOK – King Vupp
7. GREENFIELD HOTEL – King Vupp *
8. BAMBOO BED – King Vupp *
9. FUNERAL – King Vupp *
10. UP TIGHT SATURDAY NIGHT – King Vupp *
THE JOLLY BOYS AT CLUB CARIBBEAN- The Jolly Boys
11. JAMAICA FAREWELL – The Jolly Boys *
12. CLUB CARIBBEAN – The Jolly Boys *
13. BIG FAT WIFE – The Jolly Boys *
14. I KNOW YOU’RE A CHILD – The Jolly Boys *
15. DIP AND FALL BACK – The Jolly Boys *
16. HURRY UP – The Jolly Boys *
17. SARAH – The Jolly Boys *
18. THE RIVER HAS COME DOWN – The Jolly Boys *
19. LOVE ONE ANOTHER – The Jolly Boys *
20. THE BEAUTIFUL GARDEN – The Jolly Boys *
HIGH NOTE MENTO, REGGAE & CALYPSO, 1974 – 1977
21. EASY MINTO (AKA EASY MENTO) – Sugar Belly *
22. RUCUMBINE – Sugar Belly *
23. LIZARD IN BED – Wisdom *
24. ALI – Bobby Ellis & The Soul Syndicate *
DISC TWO: RAM JAM – The Prince Brothers
1. RAM JAM (LP MIX) – The Prince Brothers *
2. HOLD HIM JOE – The Prince Brothers *
3. COME BACK TO ME – The Prince Brothers *
4. SWEET JAMAICA – The Prince Brothers *
5. THERE GOES THE BELLS OF OLD – The Prince Brothers *
6. FI ME SOMETHING AKA OPEN THE DOOR – The Prince Brothers *
7. GAL AND BOY – The Prince Brothers *
8. EVERYBODY WINING THEIR BODY – The Prince Brothers *
9. IT’S TOO LATE – The Prince Brothers *
10. MY HEART CRIES OUT – The Prince Brothers *
BONUS TRACKS
11. JEREMIAH – The Prince Brothers
12. DALLY WITH A CHINAMAN – Prince Edwards *
HIGH NOTE MENTO, JUMP UP & CALYPSO, 1966 – 1968
13. QUEENIE DARLING – Aston & The Fugitives *
14. RING DING ’67 – Count Lasher
15. GREAT ’68 – Marva Moore
16. SKILAMY – Aston & Yen
17. THANK DE LARD – The Dingle Brothers
18. LITTLE FLEA – Patsy Todd
19. MOVE UP CALYPSO – Al & The Vibrators
20. TAKE YOU MEAT OUT DE RICE – Aston & The Fugitives *
21. WINNIE THE WHIP – Count Lasher
22. PARTY TIME – Baba Brooks & His Band *
* Tracks new to CD